Art and Identity

National and personal identities do not magically happen; they are built on and influenced by immediate and past events, environments, traditions, and cultural legacies. Artists capture and document not only the physical conditions of a society but also the emotional and mental conditions. They construct a sense of who we were and are as a person and as a nation. Society’s identity is always fluid. When we see identity as static, we record people with stereotypes and do not see them for who they are. Art is one way to challenge static notions of identity by engaging the viewer in visual narratives that are unfamiliar to them, and that educate and challenge their previously held notions.

You will research this artist and create a timeline looking at your chosen artists’ influences.

You will establish some historic references that link to the chosen contemporary artists style, content, concern and/or intentions.

This timeline may be a traditional linear timeline or a mind map that clearly marks out the progression of your research.

The Objectives-

To learn more about these contemporary artists and how they have developed their work, concerns, interests, and intentions.
To look beyond and around your chosen artist’s work; into their background, into what might have influenced them, and make some connections with other artists, events or relevant issues.
To look at artwork with similar intentions, subject matter or genre’ to expose how national and personal identities are built on and influenced by immediate and past events, environments, traditions, and cultural legacies

Some questions to get you started.

Plot some points on your timeline

What year is the artwork you have chosen?
What is the format of the artwork? (painting, sculpture, installation, performance)
Is it part of a specific art movement?
What art movements come before, after or overlap?
What are your artist’s concerns or intentions?
What is the subject matter?
How might it address identity?
What artists or cultural events have influenced your artist?
Are there specific artists that have influenced their work and are there visual links contextual, intentions that link similarities or references?
Can you identify a link with an artist that has influenced your artist and/or artwork?
Can you identify a link to a cultural event? (women’s rights, equal rights, LGBTQ rights, environmental issues?)